Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: My Brown Eyed Guy under consideration

My Brown Eyed Guy will make his next start in the $300,000 In Reality division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder on Oct. 12.

With three straight wins, including open-length victories in a pair of Stallion Stakes races at Calder, My Brown Eyed Guy has proven to be the dominant 2-year-old male in south Florida this summer.

His connections may try to see if he’s more than that.

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell said she and owner/breeder Gilbert Campbell are considering the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 for their gelding by With Distinction, a decision that will be based on how he fares in the $300,000 In Reality division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder on Oct. 12.

“He’s been a very impressive horse, comes from a good family, he does things very easily,” O’Connell said.

O’Connell said she and Campbell decided to skip last weekend’s Foolish Pleasure Stakes in the event that the horse proves worthy of being considered for the Breeders’ Cup.

“We skipped the Foolish Pleasure to give him a little more time in case we decide to do that,” O’Connell said. “We expect good things from him.”

The In Reality, run at 1 1/16 miles, will be My Brown Eyed Guy’s first start around two turns and first beyond seven furlongs. My Brown Eyed Guy has won all three of his races in front-running fashion.

“Most horses, two turns is a lot easier on them than going short,” O’Connell said. “I’d like to see him relax, but he’s an aggressive horse, he puts himself in the race.”

Meanwhile, the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 5 is shaping up to be a showdown of the top juvenile colts to come out of the Saratoga meet. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed last week that Hopeful winner Strong Mandate would run in the one-turn mile Champagne, while debut winners Honor Code and Havana are both expected as well.

Out West, the Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 is expected to attract Del Mar Futurity 1-2-3 finishers Tamarando, Dance With Fate, and Can the Man as well as impressive Del Mar maiden winners New Year’s Day and Schoolofhardrocks.